Coupling apparatus for cars.



PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906. G. E. KELLY. COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY19,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

HIIIIII llll No. 811,668. PATENTBD JAN. 30, 1906. G. E. KELLY.

COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1904.

' 3 SHEETSSHBET 2,

No. slim s. I PATENTED JAN. 30, 1906 Q G. E. KELLY. COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARS.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 19. 1904 section, of two connected GEORGE E. KELLY, (7F DORRANL ETON, PENNSYLVANlA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- llALF TO JAELL M. ARNOLD, OF WILKESBARRE. PENNSYLVANIA.

ooueuno aeeana'ruo eon cans.

No. or 1,068.

Specifier; on of Letters Patent.

Patented Jam 30, 1906.

Application fi1edJuly,,19, 1901- Serial No. 217,213.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Gnoaun R. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dorrancctou, county of Luzerue, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (oupling Apparatus for ,ars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to couplers between cars, which are employed for connecting conduits upon the'cars so that a continuous duct or ducts is or are prrwidcd for the passage of air, steam, or other fluid, or any of them. Such couplers are ordinaiily known as hosecouplers.

it is one object of the invention to provide apparatus whereby brakes are automatically applied whenever the train accidentally parts; but it is desirable that the application of the brakes shall occur only when the parting is accidental and not when the train is iutcutionally parted. it will be obvious that the latter would be extremely inconvenient, as in switching, making up trains, and other cases.

It is a further object of the invention to novide an improved hose-coupler as will be lwrcinaiter set l'orth.

In the :u-compauying drawings, which illustrate the inveuticm in what is considered its best. embodiment, Figure l is a side view, mrtially in section, of a coupler-section and a )ortion of another couplensection connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partl in coupler-sections. View of the outer end oi a con )ler- Fig. 4 is a detail of gearin l*ig. 5 is a section of the steam-drip. l 1g. (3 is a side view'ol the ends ol two cars equipped with a draft-coupler and the improved hosecoupler. Fig. 7 is a front view, on a reduced scale, of the supportiug-brackct of a couplersection. l ig. H is a front view of a series of pipe lengths, partlv broken away, for joining a coupler-duct with a train-pipe. Fig. 9 is a section on line 2) 2) ol' Fig.1. Fig. It) is an end view showing a luodilicd i'orm ol -ouplc1-operating means, the body being shown in sectiou.

Referring to the drawings, each hose-couplcr comprises two identical sections A and B, connected to dill'crcut' cars. ()ue couplerscc-tion is attached to each cud o! a car, as t or I), and the sections are arranged so that they will always be properly presented to lig. 3 is a section.v

:each other for coupling. is also placed a dra Between the cars t-eoupler E, and, in order that the hose-crawler may be disconnected whenever the draft-coupler is, a common means F for disconnecting the couplings is )rorided. The cars are titted with suitable 6o brakes which are automatically appliedwhens over the cars part unless the hose-c0upler has been disconnected. The sections A and B are identical in construction and are secured in the same manner to their respective cars. 'lhereiorc a description of one applies to the other. Each is flexibly supportcdso that it may readily adjust itself to var 'ng ositions of the car by which it ia carrier an flexible connections from the coupler-ducts to pi cs fixed to the car are irovided. Means l. is also provided, whereby the section may be adjusted longitudinally of the car.

in the present instance the coupler is in tended to form a connection for air-pipes for operating the brakes, similar pipes for o'pcra,"- lug the. whistle, and steam-pipes for heating or other purposes. Each couplcr section therefore has three ducts 1, 2, and 3. Ducts l and 2 for air are shown as the top ones. The steamsduct 3 is preferably on the bottom, so that: the drip will fall directly to earth and not tlow down over the coupler-section, as would he the case if itwere not so ilaccd.

Each of the sections A. am B comprises a body portion 4, iuclosiug the conduits 1, and 3, slidably supported in a stirrup5 an pressed outwardl by a spring 6, a nut 7 on the body 4 engaging with the stirrup to limit; the outward movement. The stirrup is sup-- go ported at a plurality of lougit-udiually'displaced points by rods 8, t), and 10, which ontcud through holes in a washer 11 and are supported by springs 12, I3, and 14, which at their upper cm s bear against nuts upon the 5 upper ends of the rods and attheir lower ends hear u )on the washer it. The washer cxtends iongittuliually across and is supported by a transversely-exteudiug U-siaped bracket 15, the front and rear stirrup-rods rod passing through holes on the;overhaugiiw ends of the washer 11, while the central rm passes through both the bracket and washer. The holes in the bracket and washer are elongatcd longitudinally to permitplay of the stirrup-rods. The bracket 15 is supported at each of its ends by a screw it), rotatably supported by the car-frame and engaging shown. L certain arrangement oi pipes, nl new be described, is peculiarly efiicient in this epphcation. Each the ducts in each of the coupler-sections conne ted 61 b moons a series o lengt 18 extending transver a the cor end of a combined length greater on the dis tance between the duct em; aid the trainpipe. Certain of the joints permit movement in one plane, While others permit move Inent in a plane ninety degrees removed from the first. In the apparatus shown each series of )ipe lengths comprises the lengths 612, 63, an 6 1. The length 62 jointeo at one end to a train-pipe 61, so that it may swing in a vertical plane and "at its other end is similarly jointed to the length 33. The other end of length 63 is sim "y jointed to the length 64, which is jointed to the length 18, so that it may swing horizontally. The length 18 is on extension of a, duct. The joints between the pipe lengths ere in he quent movement asthe coupler adjusts itself to the varying relative positions of the cars.

t is tlierciore necessary that the joints shall be such as will withstand wear and Will be tight, without causing-undue friction and consequent stiffness inaction. joint which is of great value in this connection may be de scribed as follows: In a casing 64, which may be a separate piece or formed integral with the pipe, is a recess 67, adopted to receive the end oi-e. pipe 68, carrying a fian e 69. Within the recess and surrounding t is passage 7 9 in the casing is a boss 71, which telescopes Within the end of the pipe 69. A seat or bearing 7 2 for the end of the pipe is provided by pouring lead, babbitt, or other suitable bearin material into the recess between the outsi e wall of the casing and the boss 71. The end of the pipe 68 is held in position by means of the gland 73, which is in threaded engagement with the casing and-is adapted to bear a ainst the outer side of the flange The gland maybe locked by means of a lock-nut 74.

The body 41- carries near its outer end a pH 21, which is rotatably end slidably mounted. The pin 21 near its outward end has a transverse notch 22 upon one side and near its in nor end has cam-slots 23. Each of the camslots has an inclined portion and a circum lerto a train-pipe inted pipe ential portion, the letter being located at the inner end of the slot. mounted on the pin 21 near its inner end that it may turn thereon and has internal projections 26 and 27 extending into the cam-slots, so that longitudinal relative movement of the pin and co, vheel causes them to turn with relation to esch other. The cog 25 en- With a mounted upon the body Leo that it may turn, in held against longitudinsl movement. l sons for turning the gear 28, such as to, may be connected to the gear by any suitable means, as an eye The cog 25 label-(l against limgitudlunl movement by HPulS of rims 31 upon each side of the e: n of the cog, which bear against the sides of its teeth of the gear 2%.

Upon the opp e o the gear 23 from the cog 25 1s a spring-p ed lotcli 3? pivoted. to the cog M33. to latch is noted at the inner end of e channel bod 4,. which channel at its outer end or;- psnds into a funnel 35, which is adapted to guide the end of the pin from the other section of the coupler into channel 34, so that when the the latch nop into the trot notch in tile pin in so that a 1E6, mrmally pressed against seat by a spring 38, controls the connection normally pressed. against its of the duct 1 with the atmosphere. A draft on the pin 21 will cause it to move forward and thc'disk 36 to come against the stem 39 W05 the valve-end remove the valve from its seat, thereby "connecting the duct 1 with the atmosphere and rousing the brakes to be applied Apuaratus whereby the release of air causes the brakes to be applied is Well known, and therefore has not been illustrated in detail. It will be understood that the invention is not, however, limited to air-bral es or those of any osrticuler class. [it the outer end of each of the ducts a valve for closing the duct upon parting of the cars. Each of the valves comprises at wedge-casing 40, prelerably of pressed carbon, Within which is slidably mounted the hollow piston 41, also preferably of pressed carbon. The piston is normally pressed outwardly by a spring 42, secured to the piston, and a pin fixed in the casing 40 and extending through a slot 43 in the piston-Wall. The outward movement of the piston limited by e shoulder H on the piston coming against the end of the casing 40. The outward end of the piston normally projects beyond the casing and has a diagonal face 45 to insure a good joint between it and the corrcspondimg valvc-piston of the other section. in connected oosition, the piston of each section is forced inwardly, and the hole 46 in the piston forms a means of communication be- Whcn the sections are A cog-Wheel 25 is so I tween the duct and the interior of the piston,

"that the drip is closed.

which through. the interior of the correspond ing piston of the other-section communicates in a similar manner with. the duct of the other section. Thus the corresponding due ts of the two sections are connected together Whenever the coupling is connected. When, however, the train parts, the. pistons are drawn into their casings and the ends of the ducts closed.

Controlling a drip-vent 47 in the steamduct is a piston-valve having apiston 48 with a passage 4-9, adapted to be moved into and out of registry with the vent 47 and a hole 50 in the valve-cylinder 51. The piston is normally held in such position by a spring 52 To the gear 28 is socured a spring 53, adapted to engage with the piston 48, when it is in position to disconnect the coupler and force the drip open. The sections are normally held in connected position by a spring (50 and il it be desired to blow oil the steam-pipe at any time it may he done by throwing a section into disconnected position. The ends of the valve-pistons are elongated, so that those of adjacent sections abut against each other, and the closing of the valves is positively secured no matter under what circumstances the sections of a coupler are brought together.

The means i for operating the couplers maybe of any suitable form, as a lever 57, pivoted to the car. The coupler-section is normally held in connected position. by a suitable means, as a spring 60, connected to the lever 57.

The operation of the device may be de-- scribed as follows: Assuming that two cars to be couplcd are approaching each other, as the sections of the couplers come together the projecting ends of the hollow pistons oi the duct-valves will, engage and be pushed inwardly, thereby connecting the correspond ing ducts on the two cars, as hereinbelore dcscrihcd. The c ulplcr-scctions are guided in their approachby the pins 21, which enter the mouths of the funnels 3:) even though the sections are far out of alinemcnt. The flexible mountings of the sections permitthcm to adjust themselves to the dill'crcnt conditions. After traversing the channels 34 the ends of the )ins 21 en'icrgc from the inner ends of those channels and passing over the latches 32 press them downwardly until the transverse notches in the pins are over the latches. The latches will then snap into the notchcs,-and the sections thus he made last to each other. The draft-coupling will also become connected in a wcllknowu manner. ll now it be desired to disconnect two cars, thrl'rcc end of the opcrating-lever ol" the mcans F is depressed against the spring 60. This opcratcs to disconncct the draft-coupler and to turn the gear 28, thereby throwing the latch 32, connected to the gear, out of the l notch of the pin from the other coupler- 1 section. The motion of the ear 28 being transmitted through the cog 2;) to the pin 21 of the section, that pin will he turned on its axis until its notch clears the latch of the other section. T he coupler may then lie-parted, when the ducts will be automatically closed, as before described. It will thus be seen that a disconnection of the coupler can be etlected by the manipulation of one seetion and this without ail'ectiug the brakes in any way. it, however, the dralt connection of the cars becomes accidentally disconnected, so that one car leaves the other, a dral't is created on the pins 21., which are drawn outwardly against the springs 54, and the disks 36 come against the stems 3%) ol thcvalvcs 257, unseatiug the valves and applying thc brakes as before described. It will be obvious that "as the hose-coupler is entirely inadequate for traction purposes the pins 21 must be dis connected as'the two parts of the train separate; otherwise they would be broken. This disconnection is ell'ected by. means of the cam-slots 23 and the interior projections 26 and 27 from the cog 25. As the pins are drawn outwardly they are turned out of engagement with the latches 32 by the engagement of the inclined portions of the cam-slots with the projections. Al'tcr traversing the inclined portion of the slots the projections 26 and 27 will enter the circuinferential portions; so that the returning of the pins by the springs 54 and consequent release of the brakes as soon as the pins and latches have been disengaged will be prevented.

An im ortaut feature oi the present inverttion is tiat by it, upon the separation of a train provided with brakc-couplings of the character described, the brakes on the rear section will be applied and said section brought to rest before the forward section or car comes to a stop, and it will be impossible for the two sections to collidclhat is, as soon as the valve 37 of the car immediately in rear oi the point of separation is opened b contact of the head ol" the pin 21 therewith the pressure in the duct controlled by said valve will be so rcduccd that the brakes on the rear section will be instantly applied. The valve 37 of the car immediately in front of the break or point of" separation will also he opcncd at the same time as the corresponding valve in the rear thcrcol"; but the brakes on the forward scction will not be ap died as quickly as those on the rear sccl ion, )(HIUM the action of the engine-pump will for a lime supply pressure sullicicnt to hold said brakes ol' the forward section in an inactive position. This pressure of the cnginc-pump will of course he gradually overcome and the brakes applied to the l'orwnrd scclion; but before" the brakcs are applied on said forward sccl ion the latter will have moved some distance from the rear section on which. as above dcscribod, the brakes have bccn inslanlly applied, and it will therefore be impossible for said rear section to collide with the forward car or section.

It will be noticed that when the coupling between two cars is intentionally separated the valves 37 will not be all'ected.

Instead of employing springs (it) springs (see l ig. ill) may be employed. Each of the springs Tl) bears at one end against a shoulder 7! on the cog 2% and at the other end against a shoulder 172 on the body 4. The iiiiiiiipiilatioii ol' the hose-coupler may be cficcted byiiieaiis of a chain 17.; connecting the cog '38 with the lever 1T4, pivoted to the car at 7:"). The draft-coupler may also be connected with the lever by a chain Tti.

Without being limited to the precise construction shown :iliTltltS('I'il)t l, what 1 claim is-- i. The combination with a car, of braking means mounted thereon, a second car, and a hose-coupling between said cars adapted to be connected and disconnected, and includiiig means whereby the braking means is operated upon the parting ol said cars when said coupling has not been disconnected, said brake-controllingnicaiis of the coupling being inoperative upon said partingif said coupler has been disconnected, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a car, oi brakes thereon, a second car, a hose-coupling between said cars and means whereby the draft upon said coupling operates to apply said brakes, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a car, of braking means mounted thereon, a second car, a draft-coupling between said cars, and a hosecoupling between said cars, including means whereby said brakes are applied upon a tll'tlfl between said cars when said draft-coupler is disconnected and said hose-coupling has not been disconnected, saiil braking means remaining inoperative it the hose-coupler has been disconnected,substanthillyiisdcscribed.

4. The coinbinatiini with a car, of braking means mounted thereon, a second car, a draft-coupling between said cars, a hosecoiipling between said cars, means whereby said brakes are applied upon a draft between said cars when said draft-coupler is disconnected and when said hose-coupling has not, been disconnected, said braking iiieiiiis rcinaining inoperative it said hose-coupler has been disconnected, and common menus for disconnecting said couplings, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a car, of a longitudinally-inovable coupler-section thereon, and means for adjusting the longitudinal position of said conplcr-section, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a car, of an adjustable bracket supported tlici'eUii, and a coupler-section spring supported at a plurality of longitudinally-displaced oints by said bracket, substantially as'des cribed.

7. The Combination with a car, of an adjustable bracket supported thereby, and a coupler-section pivoted to said bracket and springsnpported at a plurality of longitudinally-displaced points, substantially as described.

S. in a hose-coupler having two sections, te combination with a pin secured to each section, means in each section forlatching the pin of the other section, and common means for releasing both of said pins from said latching means, substantially as do scribed.

9. in a hose-coupler section, the combination with a pin, of a latch for securing a in from the opposing section of the coup er, means for moving said latch, and means opei'atively related to said means for turning said pin, substantially as described.

it). In a hose-coupler the combination With a pin pro'eeting from one section, of a latch in the otl pin against pull, and means operated by the lra it upon the coupler for releasing said pin,

'hstantially as described.

" ii. In a hose-coupler, the combination with in projecting from one section, of means the other section for securing said pin,

tainming means whereby draft. upon said pin operates to turn and thereby release said pin, and a spring tending to force said opposite direction,substantiallyas escribeil.

12. The coii'ibination with a car, of a trainpipc thereon for controlling the brakes, a valve controlling said train-pipe, a couplersection comprising a projectin pin at one side of the passage through Sfiltl COUPlBF-SEC- tion and .incans whereby said pin controls said valve, substantially as described.

" L3. The combination with a car rovided tli llllltl-PYF'SSUIP brake devices, 0 a coupler-section connected with the car and having formed therein a passage extendin from ice section adapted to secure said (pin in the a pressure-duct of the brake inec ianism through one face of said cou ler-se-ction, a valve arranged within and at apted to nor-. mally close said passage and provided with a projecting pin or'stud, and means for automatically applying pressure to the, pin of the corresponding valve of a similar eouler-section when said sections are accidentallg disengaged substantially as and for the purpose described. i

14. The coiiibiniition with a car rovided with fluid-pressure brake devices, 0' a coupler-section mounted on the car and provided wit li ducts coiiiiiiunieating with the pressureducts of the liltl-lfl devices, valves arranged within said ducts ol the coupler-section and adapted to be automatically opened when said section is engaged by a similar section, said coupler-section having a passage adaptemcee in with the atom-solitaire, end a. valve controlling said passage and adopted to be operated .iioin the oximi'ior oi the coiipleigeubstaik tioiiy no and it'd the impose described.

The combination. with two cars each provided with iluid pi'cissnre brake devices, oi o couplingi'ietween oil-iii coi's comprising a. section. inoonied on each cor and provided with ducts tlfldpltl to form part of the brake devices, nicenc or entoino ,icelly connecting the ducts of o section of the coupler with the co'i'i'es ionding d nets in the ()iilel couplersection sold sections are engaged, each of said couple-r sections having at passage adepted i connect one of said pressure-ducts with tire etinosnlieire, it viiive COHtlOllillg each of si'iidpoiie-i no for automatically actuating said valve when the conpler-sec- "ions are unintentionally disengaged, subst iiiiiiliyjz'ie "did. for lie nirpoeo described.

16 The combination with. a {1111' provided with iltlitl -plk. dire L'Hillflb devices, oi it couplcsrootion having tliei'ein duct forming port oi we broke dovicire, and. provided with at pmiiiege odziptcd to connect one of said ducts with the atinoepliei'c, :1 valve controlling said passage, and moons on the coupleoseotion o. L-llillilhll' section on another said inciins blfillg adopted to automotactuate mid vzdvo when uiiintontionoi ici'dl oily disengaged "ii-om s-iiiid second couplcr--s1=c tion, iil,i.-:toiiliniiy am and. RH the purpose itloeci'iiiod.

ii". The combination with 2t cm", ol' ii ili'illil? tmin oipo ilioi'con, lt solve controlling said ti' i'judplll-fi00il0il comprising :i to; at v pin, imniis whereby the draft upon mini C()d}l01'-5tijl ion opci'zitcs to release said pin aind' incline whereby the tll'dit upon said pin opt-totes to actuate said valve, eubstnntizilly as described.

122%. The combination with it our, oi' brakes tllitltflil, at second ciii', n. ilU5U- llpl0Y liotween Sditl curs coinpi'ieing sections adopted to be eoni'iocted toocl her and means whereby di'ol't on said coupler opoi'ntos to disconnect sold sections and apply mid brakes, substantially as dceci'ibcd. i

1%). in o liaise-coupler, the combination with means for accomplishing the connection and disconnection of sand coupler, of o illiP- valve o iitivoly' related to each section of said coupler, eprings acting to hold said valves closed, and means 'l'oiipoeitively openin said valves whon tbo couplor-scctions lU'O dieconnoctcd, eubstontinlly as described.

20. Iii-e liosomou ileihaving two motions, the combination with. n dripwolvc on one section, oi it drip-volvo on the other section, said til valves being so constructed and. located in said sections that when said sections are in connected position said valves :irnitiiolly operetev to close each other, substantially as described.

21. Inc hose-con i6! section, the combination With a contra. PQlidOll having a duct, of a. pin u on one side of mid portion, a pinengoging etch upon the other side of said ortion, means for moving said latch into unzttclied position, means for moving said pin into UDlELtOi'LQd position, said. means being 0 J- emtivoly connected together, eubstontiiilly as described.

22. In a lXOSQCOUPlGI' section, the combination with a pin, oil it latch for eecnrin 'a. pin from the opposing section oi ti 2, coup or, means for moving said latch, and moons operutively related to soidnn no for moving said pin, substantially as desciibed.

In a hose-coupler section, the combination with :1 control body pin'tion having it duct, of a spring-dutch mounted to turn upon said body portion, t pin, and gearing conneoting said pin and lamb, :-iiil ii:itniitiiilly as described.

24. In a. hosecon )iOl' section, the combination with it ccnti'ii body portion havinga duct, of a. funnel upon one side oi said body port-ion, 2t spring lotcli behind mild funnel, it gear connected to said liitcii mid. rotatably mounted upon. said body portion, :1 pin on tho opposite side o'l' said body portion from said funnel, and it goes: oi'igiiging with, said pin and the ofoi'csoid gem, siibeizintizdly on described.

25. The combination with ii. Pill, of it coupl01*S(!Cil0l1, splin suspondci'i tlioi'efi'om lit a pivotal point and also springcii ipoi'tod at at plurality of points longitudionliy displaced from sand pivot, substantially in: described.

2b. The combination with two can; having fluid-operated brakes, oi 2L ecpiuitblc coupling [or connecting the iii-elm mechanism of one cm with that oi the others, and inciudim moans whereby the blztiitti on both time will be operated upon the porting oi' sztid curs when said coupling; has not been disconnected, such broke-commilling moons of the coupling being inopvi'zitivo ii' tlio wuplor has been disconnected.

In testimony wlioi'col l lntvo signed my mum: to this speciiicntion in the presence oi two subscribing WIUIPSSQS.

W. L. ltiuconn, M. U. iBARRETT. 

